Skunks and snow

It is that time of year again, Skunk breeding season is in full swing in CT. Our first Nuisance complaints started Valentines day. The typical call is for the skunk spraying under the house. Many of the people noticed the trails leading under the deck or house in the snow, but waited.

We get the call after the home owners wake up in the middle of the night eyes burning, difficulty breathing from the potent spray. The skunk smell can linger for weeks or months.
Skunks will hold up for a few days when the weather gets bad, but they do not hibernate like groundhogs. Storms like the blizzard we have just experienced do not hinder the skunks much. Now is a good time to walk around your property looking for trails in the snow. Skunks trails will always lead to a hole of some sort. Skunks will move under sheds, crawl spaces and decks. Do not make the mistake in assuming that a woodchuck is the only resident under your shed. I find many times skunks living in the same hole as a woodchuck.

Skunks do not need a lot of room to get under something, they may look big but that is mostly fur. Spaces under three inches high and four inches wide is more than enough room for a skunk to fit.

Bird feeders are a favorite source of food for the skunks this time of year especially. Raccoons will also visit bird feeders for an easy meal. Skunks will have multiple den sites normally, and will visit them regularly in our area I find the time between visits average seven to eight days. I am happy to answer any questions just use the contact form or give me a call.